Fencing-wire stretcher.



No. 831,932. PATENTE D SEPT. 25, 1906. G. GOATES.

FENCING WIRE STRBTGHER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-18, 1906.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 18, 1905. Serial No. 274,706.

Patented Sept. 25, 1906.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Gnonen CoATEs, a British subject, residing at WVinterslow, in the county of WVilts, England, have invented a new and useful Fencing-Tire Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for stretching and repairing wire on fences.

The objects of my improvements are, first, to provide means for forming the particular wire-splice described below, entitled Platelink splice, and for utilizing the plate-link thereof to form a the two usual wire-grips second, to provide as an auxiliary to the stretcher a means of bringing the slack wire end within reach of the stretcher and a powerful frame on which the stretcher shall be completed without the intervention of any dangerous rope or chain; third, to provide a che ck-pawl without springs, yet automatic and safe fourth, to provide a safe wire-grip self-tightening and which does not kink or otherwise mutilate the wire. I proceed to show by what mechanisms I attain these objects.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the platelink splice aforesaid completely formed. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the fundamental parts of the wire-stretcher. Fig. 3 is a plan of the same. Fig. 4 shows how the slack wire end is brought within reach of the stretcher-frame. Fig. 5 shows one position of the pawl. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation through line a b,

Fig. 2.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout.

The following is a detailed description of thesame.

I. The plate-link splice consists of a plate link L with a hole for each wire end. One wire is squarely bent near its end, threaded through the link up to the bend, and the projection sharply bent down on the link in a forward direction. l/Vhen the stretching has been effected, the other wire is squarely bent at a suitable point and secured to the link in a corresponding manner with the first wire, but from the opposite side of the link. The claw C is a two-fingered claw, the fingers being separated by a slot wide enough to allow the fencing-wire to enter freely. When one end of the link L has been secured to one wire, the cavity of the claw receives that end simple substitute for one of of the link, while the tip of the claw retains the link in a position suitable for splicing.

II. The auxiliary chain ch is a light chain with links suitable to engage with the-claw C in the manner shown in Fig. 4. At one end is a hook h, which can seize the plate-link L by its-hole.

III. The combined frame and rack R shown has preferably a l--section. (See Fig. 6.) The horizontal rib is provided with a stepped rack R for purposes of hauling and retaining. The vertical rib carries the slider-S (to which is attached the wire-grip G9) and the follower F, (to which is attached the check-pawl P.) The claw O is shown as a part of the frame R, and the grip Gg as a part of the slider S; but the reverse arrangement may be adopted, if desired. To the forward end of the slider S are pivoted the drag-links (ZZ, by which the slider is hauled. The operating lever 16, Fig. 2, is pivoted to the drag-links (ZZ, and is provided at one end with a tooth or teeth capable of engaging with the rack-steps R. A hook 7c is attached to the slider S as a means of seizing the auxiliary chain ch for the purpose described below.

IV. he follower F, with check-pawl P attached, is drawn along by a trailing wire it, attached to the slider S. In Figs. 2 and 3 it is shown acting as a check to the slider S, the pawl P sitting firmly down into a rack-step. l/Vhen the slider is hauled forward a little, the follower F is tilted forward into the position shown in Fig. 5, the fit of the follower on the vertical rib of the frame R being slack enough to allow such tilting. The pawl P is then clear of the rack-steps. Should the slider S rush back, it knocks the follower F over into a vertical position with the pawl P jammed down into a rack-step. Further, the slackness of fit aforesaid is not enough to make it possible to lift the pawl wholly out of a step by a clear vertical lift. Thus the follower check-pawl described above is a safety appliance.

V. The bottom jaw G of the Wire-grip Gg is provided by forming a smooth groove G in the slider S in such a manner that the Wire can lie straight and in line. The top jaw g of the wire-grip Gg is provided by forming in the slider S a four-sided recess r, in which a hard-steel sleeve 8 fits loosely. An ordinary screw-bolt to, passing through the sleeve sin a direction across the line of wire, secures the sleeve to the slider S by a nut a. The lower face of the sleeve 8 is an incline 9, running downward and outward in a direction across the line of wire and has corrugations g running in the same direction, and the combination of recess 7", sleeve 8, bolt bo,'and corrugated incline g is such that on screwing up the nut of the bolt the sleeve 8 is drawn into the recess 7', the incline g pressing the wire down into the groove G and each corrugation scoring the wire to an extent that insures the initial. frictional grip of the corrugated face g of the sleeve on the wire being greater than that of the smooth groove G on the wire.

The upper face 8 of the sleeve 8 fits closely to that of the recess 1", both being inclined downward in such a direction that the pull of the wire, acting on the sleeve s through the aforesaid initial friction set up between them by screwing up the nut of the bolt ()0, draws the sleeve down the recess-incline, creating by this means an additional and automatic gri on the udre. w should be cylindrical to allow this motion. To illustrate the working of the stretcher, I will describe how a broken wire is spliced. One wire end is placed within the grip Gg, leaving a few inches of free wire, Fig. 4, and the initial grip is given by screwing up the nut n, Fig. 6. The second wire end is then fitted with a plate-link L, (in the manner described above,) to which the hook it of the auxiliary chain ch is secured, Fig. 4. The operator next places the slider S at the commencing end of the rack It, as in Fig. 4, and, drawing the chain oh and rack R together by hand, drops link Z of the chain ch into the claw C. By a reciprocating motion the lever Ze now engages successively with the racksteps, hauling the slider S along the rack (the follower check-pawl FP automatically, step by step, backing up the slider) until the hook k seizes that chain-link Z which is being held and presented by the claw C. (See dotted picture of slider in Fig. 4.) At this juncture the tension-circuit is complete without the rack R and the claw C. Hence now if the pawl P is kept clear of the rack-steps by tilting the follower F with the fingers the claw C, with the rack R, may be drawn forward to seize a fresh link Z of the chain, (see dotted picture of claw C in Fig. 4,) and the hook it may be detached from the chain. This cycle of operations is repeated until the claw C reaches and retains the plate-link L, as in Figs. 2, 3, when the auxiliary chain ch may be removed, the final and heaviest part of the The seating of the washer stretching being done on the frame R alone. The splice is then completed as described above.

In stretching new wire the stretcher may be used. either (Case 1) between the stretchposts or (Case 2) at a stretch-post. In Case 1 the process will be similar to that for splicing, except that that half of the wire which is seized by the grip Gg need not be cut oil the coil until the exact length required has been ascertained. In Case 2 it will be necessary first to fasten to the post a short auxiliary wire provided at its free .end. with a platelink. Then proceed as in Case 1, except that the wire attached. to the coil may in this instance be secured direct to the post and the auxiliary wire removed.

hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a wire-stretcher of the class de scribed, the combination with a fingered claw, of a wire coupling having openings adjacent to its opposite ends for connection with one wire end and to be received and held. by the said claw, and movable means for connection with the other wire end to bring the latter in a position. for engagement with the said coupling.

2. In a wirestretoher, in combination, a chain provided. at one end with a hook, a claw detachably engaging with the chain at one of several suitable points along it, a wiregrip, means for drawing the claw with the chain toward the wire-grip, a hook mounted on the wire-grip, for holding the chain during the reverse movement of the claw, all substantially as set forth, and for the purpose specified.

3. In a wire-stretcher, in combination, a rack-frame, a slider moving smoothly on the rack-frame and carrying a wire-grip, a follower and pawl integrally connected and mounted on the rack-frame behind. the slider and operated by the slider substantially in the manner described.

4. In a wire-stretcher a wire-grip comprising in combination a piece having a smooth groove and a recess whose upper face is inclined, a hard sleeve working in the recess and having its lower face a corrugated in cline, a bolt threaded through the sleeve, and l a nut, all operating substantially as set forth.

GEORGE coA'rEs/ Witnesses:

ANNIE M. COATES, PHILIP CoA'rEs. 

